Haven't Britian and America learnt yet.  They will send their troops into Afghanistan, have their soldiers killed due to their own bad government decisions that it is in the best interest of UK and America to be there, despite the fact that they already know the consequences.

Afghanistan will be a never ending war.  They, like the Palestinians will fight to the death and never give up.  Britian went through it for years and retreated, Russia tried for years and retreated and now the Americans and British soldiers are doing it again.  It wont help.  They are too strong, know the lands and as previously mentioned, will fight to the death.  The Afghans will once again force the occupiers out - only after killing many soldiers.  As sad as it is to lose a son, father, nephew, etc (a friend of mine lost her nephew in this war), why waste time sending soldiers into a country to fight for so called liberation that the Afghans do not want, and then leave (as in Iraq) because interest has wained, popularity is at an all time low or you have not achieved what you expected, leaving the place in a mess, without infrastructure and leaving the people in turmoil.  Occupation and colonialism does this.  And it is the Americans and British who are brilliant at this.  Move in, kill thousands, disrupt and then step back, relinquishing all responsibility for the mess caused.  Their entire history and existence is based on this type of imperialism.

I had something to say about Obama when he was elected and i was shot down by a number of bloggers to say that i should give him a chance.  I have to say that as for today (6 months down the line), all Obama is good for is orating - although after listening to him speak on the Iran nuclear issue in a press conference, he fumbled and stuttered so much, that i had to wonder whether he was good for that.

No change to date has been made - sure he has passed a couple of bills - but what of the critical issues facing the world.  The Palestine/Israeli issue which has been so in everybodies faces has not even been addressed.  Listening to him say that Iran will pay the price if they dont sit at the table to discuss their nuclear issue is like listening to Bush all over again.  Is he going to try and pull the wool over our eyes like the Bush administration, and by using deceptive strategy convince the world that Iran is the next nuclear threat?  Guantanamo...ooops, sorry he did nothing there either.....in fact he did say that it should close within a year, but has done nothing to stop the torture and attrocities taking place.  Pulling troops out of Iraq is another issue - seems like they are leaving a "few" troops back - 30 000 or so.  It would also seem that Pakistan is being bombed more that Obama is in place.  It says a lot about his foreign policy as far as sovereignty of other countries is concerned.
A CNN poll has turned in statistics that his popularity has dropped quite substantially and it is no wonder. 
With his recent visit to Ghana I would have to say that on the surface it may seem like a "friendly" visit, but as an African I would want to know what alterior motives he has.  I have to say it but the Americans and British cannot be trusted.  Of recent times that has been proven - gone to war on lies - as well as historically.  And as we all know, history repeats itself.  It is just the colour of the presidency that has changed this time.  Policies remain the same

President Lee Myung-Bak has promised to donate the total bulk of his wealth (amounting to about $26 million) to charity.  Lee had originally promised to donate his wealth in 2007 after he was accused of amassing his fortune through illegal means.  He has, since then, been cleared of these charges.  It is now being said that opposition parties are accusing him of supporting the rich, hence the reason for him wanting to donate his wealth.  He has acknowledge that in order for him to gain this wealth, he has been helped by the poor and that by donating this back he believes that it is the best way to pay back kindness.

They intend to use the money to set up a new youth scholarship programme.

Now this is a person who is a TRUE humanitarian!!  How many of us could do that

I have to say a few things about the memorial that i watched for Michael Jackson. 

He was one of the most brilliant musicians and artists the world has seen.  One cannot deny that
He was extremely eccentric - by his own choice - and this probably added to that enigmatic side which attracted his fans
Having the memorial in his honour was something they normally do in America

HOWEVER

I have never seen so many people who got up to talk about Michael Jackson - and who are supposedly so close to him - shed one single tear.  What i did see is acting which is what the American nation is so good at and what to me seemed like a political rally.  What topped it for me was Resolution 600 in his honour presented by the Texan politician.  That was enough for me.  Whether he did so much for mankind or nothing at all, why have a Resolution once the man is dead.  Why not while he is alive so that he could encourage the rest of the world to do the things he has done. Absolutely ridiculous, and her speech was given as if she was campaigning for something.  Why do they do this when people die..... why not while they are living....But nobody has brought up the paedophile charges against him.  She mentioned that Americans are innocent until proven guilty but said nothing about acquittal.  He was acquitted of these charges and settled out of court which to me says he was accepting guilt.  This cloud hung over his head (and i am not a MJ follower, but did follow the legal proceedings and it left everybody with a bad taste in their mouths).  Despite these serious charges - which happened a few times - they still bring out a Resolution 600.  It is like creating a resolution in Jacob Zuma's honour - on his death of course - hailing him a hero and humanitarian despite the fact that he may potentially have been involved in the arms deal, that he had illicit sex with a girl, thereby committing adultry, etc etc....leave out the bad, but hail the good.  Pathetic.  Americans live their lives in a coccoon of artistry and acting which leaves the people who really deserve the praise nowhere - well they are mentioned, but only have a little limelight - the rest goes to the speaker on the floor.

Michael Jackson is gone, his legacy lives on for millions and he will most definitely be remembered for his music.  Give the man his dues and bury him.   Honour the fact that his body goes back to dust and dont keep him "out" for fans to see.  It is about curiosity and memories for these fans, something that humans are renown for.  We love to live in the past as it was the most memorable time for us, but we are curious by nature and if the body is there to see, whether you were not a huge follower or not, go and see it, watch it on TV, etc.

We spend more time, especially with somebody like MJ, keeping his memory alive by creating concerts, memorials, gatherings, etc etc which are all just a money making racket.  Let the man go and remember him if you wish, but bury him.  Dont create resolutions as these are like empty vessels.  Something that is put on a wall and given a year from now, nobody will remember it.

Human dignity should be honoured while the person lives.  Not once he is gone.

Memorable printing.  Isnt that something we miss.  Today it is so easy to get what you want in printing, whether it be litho, digital, screenprinting, etc and on whatever medium you require.  Whatever happened to that old embossed effect, the same effect that when we look at a card we feel nostalgic and are in awe at its authenticity and beauty - wanting to keep it safe and to add to your already collected items.

I am really lucky to be getting back into this type of printing again.  We, my husband and I  have had the machinery and equipment for a couple of years now and have finally decided that we need to get  back into it, re-creating the memories and re-introducing a dying trade.  There has been such a demand for this type of thing and although we have done it on a smaller scale, we now want to show people that printing can have meaning and a beauty unlike any other.  Not only will we be doing letterpress, but hot foil stamping as well.  Using both techniques will give the recipient a real appreciation and will feel the emotion with which it was given.  Almost like having home cooking - giving you that warm fuzzy feeling.

Here's to creating memories.

I love it when we get scientific proof, proof enough to shoot down people like National Geographic who punt ridiculous myths as if they were true.  I have to say i do watch National Geographic, mainly due to their beautiful footage, but also often to see what crazy theories they put forth for the viewers.  So much money, time and footage is spent on taking a theory or even a prediction and then making the viewer believe that it is true, despite the fact that no clear scientific proof is given.  We watch it, believe it and then live it, telling others of what we now KNOW!!  Or at least think we know.

I have watched a few documentaries on global warming where National Geographic not only talk about what Global Warming is, but the effects in our current eco systems as well as how it has already affected animals species, weather patterns etc, not to mention its effect on man.  They have always painted a bleak picture of where we are headed - doomed was basically the outcome - and all of this was based on global warming.

I was reading an article that i thought i would share to those who prefer proof to just heresay :

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25401759-25717,00.html

I still love their footage, but I think National Geographic is going to have to go back to the drawing board and change their thinking.

Being the sceptic i am, i dont believe a thing until i have proof enough to believe it - not even by the big guns.

I was listening to Radio 5 and Radio 702 a few days ago and was horrified at the likes of Gareth Cliff, DJ Fresh, John Robbie, Redie De Ryko and a few other radio commentators talking about different global issues occuring around the world.  The answers they give to currently world situations and opinions formulated based on their understanding was horrifying.  I wonder what the selection criteria are for hiring this type of person because it definitely cannot be based on whether the person is "worldly wise" or intelligent.  And then we use these people as "role" models - the same people our kids say are so great.

Now i try to keep abreast with what is happening, but when listening to these guys one has to ask the question as to whether they really understand what is going on, or that they were simply using their radio power to make a statement - and i have to say most of their statements are totally uninformed and quite stupid.  I never hear them "asking questions" before making a statement on any particular issue, bringing in an alternative point of view (their opinion is all that counts) - but what is clear is that they behave like puppets.  Listen to what the world has to say (informed or otherwise), and make the same statement.  They are all very well versed in sex education, HIV do's and don'ts, the music of the moment and why it supercedes anything of worth, and extremely well versed in a value system that quite honestly does not benefit anybody - unless the listener has the same intellect as them.  All in all, trying to get a reasonably unbiased viewpoint from any of these people is an impossibility.  Which leaves us with what and who?  Not too many people unfortunately.  Not even the TV stations give an objective point of view - especially the news - it is like watching CNN or BBC.

Whatever happened to our ability to look at situations and formulate our OWN honest opinion without trying to agree and fit in with the rest of them.  And then of course STATING that opinion, whether it means you are scorned or rendered a hero for saying your piece.  Have we lost our courage to say what we mean or say what we feel.  Really sad.  Lets hope that there are a few of us left (and i know there are) who look at situations objectively, say it as it is and prepare themselves for the repercussions.

I have to say that after watching the first Confed Cup match between SA and Iraq, i have never been so embarassed in my life.  The embarassment came when every time Booth (the white player in the team), who quite honestly was a solid defender, received the ball - our own South Africans "boo-ed".  Disgraceful.

We are a country should stand together, support the team, whether good or bad, but become one.  But of course with behaviour like this, in our own country, by our own people against our own team.  Scarey and embarassing.  If this is the kind of "vibe" we are sending out to the rest of the world I dont know what to expect next.

Now that they have started finding bodies from the Air France plane crash, it made me think about the type of closure people have to deal with.  These 9 or 10 bodies will eventually be identified, handed to the families and they will then bury.  That is closure.  What of the families left with no body.  It is assumed that the family member is dead, but how do they put closure to the event.

It also reminded me of those parents whose children were kidnapped and never found.  Imagine the type of anxiety - life long - that the parents must go through, never knowing whether they are alive or dead.  It seems like a morbid discussion but it is reality that many of us have not faced and would never understand.

Lets hope that most of the bodies are found and the families are able to place some finality to the situation, comfortably.

With 100 detainees still left in the Guantanamo Bay facility, I am really hoping that the Judge rules in favour of releasing the documents that prove/disprove the innocence or guilt of the detainees as well as the innocence/guilt of the US Military who have chosen to keep these records secret.

So much has been exposed in terms of the horrendous abuse of detainees that it leaves the public holding their breath, wondering what went wrong.  My personal opinion is that these detainees need to be represented and need to put forward a case like any other rights offered to those behind bars based on the allegations made against them.  Holding them for over 5 years without allowing representation is a violation of rights.  If found guilty, my personal preference would be death, however by whatever means necessary, they need to be punished.  If no proof is found they should not only release the person/s but publicly apologise as well as provide compensation for the families for the duration of the term they were held. Some of these families are living off of other family members due to the breadwinner being held at Gitmo.   It is unlikely that this apology or compensation will happen though because the US dont even do that for people who were jailed and then proven to be innocent.  Sad but true.

I want the US Military exposed for their misgivings as they are too arrogant about their power - power that they misuse and abuse.  The photos and files need to come out and those involved need to be prosecuted.  They would never get death, as with the soldier that raped the 12 year old and killed her and her family.  He only got life which was expected.  And in a military prison which is far less "severe" than the normal prisons.  Whatever the sentence, there needs to be prosecution.  Lets hold thumbs that all is exposed.